Skip to main content
Super TutorResources
Chapter 23 of 30
Important Questions

Gravitation : Planets and Satellites — Important Questions

ICSE · Class 11 · Physics

72 important questions from Gravitation : Planets and Satellites for ICSE Class 11 Physics, with answers. Part of the ICSE Class 11 Physics syllabus.

72 questions42 flashcards13 formulas & key relations5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Gravitation : Planets and Satellites? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for important questions and more.

Try Super Tutor — Free

Free trial, no card needed.

An illustration showing a planet orbiting the Sun in an elliptical path, with the Sun located at one of the foci of the ellipse. Labels indicate the Sun, the planet, and the elliptical orbit.
Super Tutor

Learn better with visuals Super Tutor pairs illustrations like this with notes and quizzes for Gravitation : Planets and Satellites.

72 Questions·
multiple choicemultiple correct

Important Questions from Gravitation : Planets and Satellites

1multiple choice
3 marks

A geostationary satellite has orbital radius 42200 km and period 24 h. Find its orbital speed.

Show answer

3.1 km/s

Use v = 2πr/T. With r = 42200 km and T = 24 h, v ≈ 2 × 3.14 × 42200 / 24 ≈ 11042 km/h = 3.1 km/s.

2multiple choice
3 marks

At Earth’s surface, g = 9.8 m/s^2 and R_e = 6.37 × 10^6 m. Find the escape velocity using v_e = √(2gR_e).

Show answer

11.2 km/s

v_e = √(2gR_e) = √(2 × 9.8 × 6.37 × 10^6) ≈ √1.248 × 10^8 ≈ 1.12 × 10^4 m/s = 11.2 km/s.

3multiple choice
3 marks

A satellite of mass m moves in a circular orbit of radius r around Earth. If its orbital speed is v_o, find the total energy in terms of G, Me, m and r.

Show answer

-1/2 GMe m / r

For a circular orbit, K = GMe m /(2r) and U = -GMe m / r. So E = U + K = -GMe m/r + GMe m/(2r) = -1/2 GMe m/r.

4multiple choice
3 marks

A satellite orbits Earth in a circle of radius 2R_e. Find its orbital speed in terms of the orbital speed close to Earth’s surface, v_0.

Show answer

v_0/√2

Orbital speed varies as 1/√r. If r becomes 2R_e, speed becomes √(R_e/2R_e) = 1/√2 times the close-orbit speed v_0.

+68 more questions on Gravitation : Planets and Satellites (ICSE Class 11 Physics)

Practise All

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Gravitation : Planets and Satellites for ICSE Class 11 Physics?
Key topics in Gravitation : Planets and Satellites include Kepler's Laws and Planetary Motion, Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation and Gravitational Constant, Acceleration Due to Gravity and Earth's Mass and Density, Variation of g with Altitude, Depth, Latitude, and Shape of Earth. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 11 exams.
How many important questions are there in Gravitation : Planets and Satellites?
Super Tutor has 72 practice questions for Gravitation : Planets and Satellites, including multiple choice, multiple correct questions. A sample with answers is on this page.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

More resources for Gravitation : Planets and Satellites

All ICSE Class 11 Physics Important Questions

For serious students

Get the full Gravitation : Planets and Satellites chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 11 Physics. Free to start, no card needed.

Try Super Tutor Free
Try this chapter free